Mayfield makes too many mistakes in return from COVID list
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) ā Baker Mayfield showed how difficult it is to thrive without getting much practice time, no matter how easy Aaron Rodgers has made it look over the last month.
Mayfield threw a career-high four interceptions in his first game since returning from the reserve/COVID-19 list as the Brownsā fading playoff hopes took another hit with a 24-22 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Saturday.
āIt was just missed throws,ā Mayfield said. āUncharacteristic, and I hurt this team. Thatās the most frustrating thing for me, because I thought our defense played tremendous against a really, really good offense. But when you turn the ball over on your own territory, in the red zone and around midfield and give them extra opportunities, theyāre going to take advantage of it. Thatās just who they are.ā
Clevelandās coronavirus-related complications have severely hindered the Brownsā chances of earning a second straight playoff berth.
Mayfield missed a 16-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday because of his presence on the list. The Browns (7-8) were missing at least eight regulars Saturday and about a dozen regulars on Monday.
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
With left tackle Jedrick Wills and center JC Tretter both on the coronavirus list, Mayfield was sacked five times while going 21 of 36 for 222 yards. He threw touchdown passes to Harrison Bryant and Anthony Schwartz.
Even with so many players sidelined, the Browns still could have won this game and handed the Packers their first home loss of the season ā if Mayfield hadnāt made so many mistakes.
āWith Baker, I know he had four interceptions, but listen, we win as a team, we lose as a team,ā Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. āHeās going to take it hard and weāre all taking it hard.ā
Stefanski said he didnāt consider making a quarterback switch at halftime. Three of Mayfieldās interceptions came in the first half.
āBaker, heās done a great job while heās been the quarterback for us and Iām going to believe in him as long as heās got a Brown uniform on,ā Browns defensive end Myles Garrett said. āIām going to roll with him. Iām going to support him. Iām going to be there for him for better or worse. Heās made some great plays. He made some not-so-great plays. So have all of us. Donāt judge him for when he was injured or coming back from COVID. The guy can play.ā
Mayfield has been unable to practice the last couple of weeks due to the NFLās COVID-19 protocols. But he only had to look at the opposite sideline to know that a lack of practice time doesnāt always result in a lack of production.
Rodgers has thrown 16 touchdown passes without an interception over his last five games for the Packers (12-3) despite dealing with a toe injury that has curtailed his practice participation. Rodgers says he fractured his left pinky toe while working out at home during his own quarantine after a positive COVID-19 test.
Mayfield didnāt come close to matching that kind of efficiency.
āI expect myself to make (those throws), and thatās why itās frustrating,ā Mayfield said. āIād be sitting up here giving an excuse that I hadnāt practiced, but Iām a quarterback in the NFL, I need to make those throws and I have before and time and time again.ā
Each of the Packersā three touchdowns followed Mayfield interceptions. His final mistake was perhaps the costliest. The Browns trailed 24-22 and faced third-and-10 from midfield when Rasul Douglas picked off a pass intended for Donovan Peoples-Jones with 43 seconds left.
Mayfield said he believed Douglas made a bit of contact on the game-clinching play, but added that āyou canāt bank on that being called.ā
āI have to look at the tape,ā Stefanski said. āI did think there was some tugging and holding on Donovan Peoples-Jones. I understand the officials are not going to get every call, but in big moments like that, thatās tough.ā
That was Douglasā second interception of the day. Mayfield also threw passes that were picked off by Darnell Savage and Chandon Sullivan.
Mayfieldās turnovers spoiled solid performances by Clevelandās running game and defense. Nick Chubb rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, and he also had three catches for 58 yards. Clevelandās defense allowed just three points in the second half and gave up just 36 yards over the Packersā last four possessions.
That combination could have added up to a Browns victory if Mayfield was spotless. He didnāt come close to that.
___
More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL